Mr. Coppola's actions follow on the heels of those of
Jay Umbarger
, who resigned his position as an alternate on the
Ethics Commission
Dec. 23, a month after he did not receive the nod from Mayor
Pat Murphy
for a full seat on the panel.

Mr. Umbarger, the Republican mayoral candidate in an unsuccessful race against Democrat Bob Gambino in 2001, also resigned from the GOP and registered as an unaffiliated voter.

"My decision has nothing to do with Mayor Pat Murphy," he said, remarking that he also has no problems with State Rep.
Clark Chapin
(R-67th).

Describing himself as an Elliot Richardson Republican or a member of the
Nelson Rockefeller
wing of the GOP, Mr. Coppola said he feels "there is no longer a place for me in the party. I feel I am totally out of step with them."

Mr. Richardson was the U.S. attorney general who refused to comply with President

Richard Nixon
's order to fire Watergate special prosecutor
Archibald Cox
, triggering a 1973 constitutional crisis known as the "Saturday Night Massacre." He was the author of the book "Reflections of a Radical Moderate."

Mr. Rockefeller served as vice president of the United States from 1974 to 1977 after having been the longtime governor of New York.

"My favorite Republican President is
Teddy Roosevelt
and the people I'm upset with, the people who seem to be in control, only have one thing in common with him - they carry a big stick," he said, declining to name names.

GOP Town Committee Chairman
Pete Bass
said he appreciates the service Mr. Coppola has given to the town.

"I've always known him to be a straightforward person," Mr. Bass said Tuesday. "We had many chats, and his was always a welcome voice within the party. He had ample opportunities to espouse his views."

Mr. Bass said he has no hard feeling towards Mr. Coppola, adding, "I wish him nothing but the best."

Mr. Coppola said he disagrees with some town committee members regarding education issues and the comments some party members have made about teachers.

A veteran of more than three decades in classrooms and a former New Milford teacher, Mr. Coppola is currently teaching in New York state.

He said he plans to seek re-election to the Board of Education as an unaffiliated voter and has no plans to resign his school board seat since he was elected by "not just Republicans."

However, Mr. Coppola said, he plans to resign from boards where he was appointed to fill GOP seats, such as the
Tricentennial Commission
, where he serves a chairman.

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A former town councilman, Mr. Coppola was a registered Democrat when he first held office in town but switched parties to become a Republican several years ago.